It looks like Tracy Lawrence’s annual Thanksgiving fundraiser was another major success this year.
For the 18th straight year, Lawrence hosted his Mission:Possible Turkey Fry and Benefit Concert to support those in need throughout Tennessee.
Over 250 volunteers gathered at the Nashville Fairgrounds to fry over 1,200 turkeys, which will be distributed throughout the state, providing over 10,000 to those who need them.
Those volunteers included other country stars such as Gary Allan, Chris Young, Jamey Johnson, Ian Munsick, Phil Vassar, and David Lee Murphy.
After the turkeys were cooked, everyone moved over to the Wildhorse Saloon for a concert to raise money for Nashville Rescue Mission, an organization which provides food and services to the homeless population of the Music City area. Performers included Tracy, Lee Brice, Pricilla Block, and Halfway to Hazard and they raised $250,000.
Tracy previously spoke to Whiskey Riff about the event:
“I’d get up Thanksgiving morning…and a lot of older people that I knew were scared to fry, so I started taking lists and I’d cook some extra turkeys and take ’em to different people and stuff on Thanksgiving.
So it was a group of us guys from church, and I was like “You know, I’d really like to do something for the Mission.”
I really think, being able to spin it in a better light, you know, I think they get a bad rap. We all see everybody panhandling on the street corners and all that but there’s always underlying things when the people are there.
It was just started as an awareness campaign for the rescue mission.”
The 10,000 meals and $250,000 matches last year’s record and since Mission:Possible’s inception the organization has raised over $1 million dollars and provided over 86k meals for the homeless in Middle Tennessee.
Speaking on this year’s event, Tracy said:
“I’m very proud of what Mission:Possible has grown into over the last 18 years. To see hundreds of volunteers frying turkeys for hours is nothing short of incredible. I want to thank Lee, Priscilla and Halfway to Hazard for being a part of this memorable and giving event.”
It’s truly awesome what this event has turned into over the years.
Big shoutout to Tracy for putting this on and to the other country artists who pitched in to help.
